218 THE BOTANY OF CHRISTMAS ISLAND. 



Celosia argetea, L. 



A common garden plant, grows in Flying<Fish Cove by 

 the old house etc., and also along the Cemetery Road, 

 evidently introduced for ornament. It is visited by 

 Megachile rotundipennis, Odynerus polyhemus and a 

 syrphid fly. 



Amaranthus viridis, L. 



A common green weed ocurring everywhere in waste 

 ground where it is warm enough for it, is very abundant 

 in Flying Fish Cove. Phosphate Hill etc. 



I believe this plant is commonly dispersed by cattle 

 and horses which eat it and pass the seed. It comes up 

 very commonly in manure. 



A. paniculatus, L. 



A tall plant with a stout stem and large lanceolate 

 blunt leaves narrowed at the base. Spikes some 

 axillary but most crowded into a dense erect conic 

 thyrse 6 inches long, pale green spikes horizontally 

 spreading 1 inch long or less, aeicular; bracts squarrose ; 

 seeds deep brown or black lenticular and margined. 

 This plant is introduced as a cultivated one and has 

 spread a little in Flying Fish Cove. It does not seem 

 to be ^typical A. paniculatus which is practically only 

 known in cultivation and is very variable. I have the 

 same form from Kuala Lumpor in Selangor. 



Neither of these Amaranthi previously recorded. 



BALANOPHORACEiE. 



Balanopliora i?isularis, n. sp. 



Rhizome rather small about 2 inches through or less 

 with one or more — about 5 stems, nodular and warted. 

 Volva irregularly split into 4 or 5 rounded lobes. Stems 

 3 or 4 inches tall, entirely lemon yellow, fleshy ^ inch 

 thick. Leaves oblong Jinear blunt at first appressed, 



Jour. Straits Branch 



